Brian Monteith

Brian Monteith argues that Andy Burnham’s initial polling bounce as prime minister could fade before the October Budget, particularly if taxes rise and Labour’s approach is seen as superficial. He urges Burnham to cancel or substantially scale back the EU reset, oppose expanded work access for young EU citizens, take a tougher stance on EU regulatory alignment and promote buying British in public-sector and defence contracts. The article portrays Reform UK as a growing threat, while describing the Conservatives as electorally weakened and warning that a future Labour commitment to rejoin the EU would alienate voters.

A Tax Policy Associates report is cited as estimating that Scotland’s 48% top income-tax rate reduced revenues by about £22 million in its first year because some taxpayers changed their behavior, moved income into pensions, or relocated. The column argues that Scotland’s broader tax divergence from England may also discourage high earners, entrepreneurs, skilled workers and inward migration, creating wider economic losses that the report does not quantify. Brian Monteith says Malcolm Offord’s advocacy of tax cuts and reliance on the Laffer Curve were vindicated, while John Swinney and the SNP are criticized for increasing tax rates and complexity.

Andy Burnham’s proposed approach to economic growth and devolution is criticised as unrealistic, overly focused on political optics, and rooted in faulty assumptions about centralisation. Industrial decline in regions such as Port Talbot, Scunthorpe and Aberdeen is attributed to the 2008 Climate Change Act rather than governance structure, with claims that further devolution would not reverse negative trends. The argument calls for abolishing the Act, approving new oil and gas fields and prioritising domestic energy production to restore jobs, reduce costs and enhance energy security. Burnham is warned that without embracing such policies, his leadership risks repeating perceived failures associated with Keir Starmer’s tenure.